Molded and undivided medical penetrating device

Abstract

A molded and undivided medical penetrating device comprises a first portion and a second substantially tubular portion having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the second substantially tubular portion of the device is joined to and is integral with the first portion of the device and is adapted to be maintained essentially outside a body while the first portion of the device is adapted to be retained within the interior of the body. The device includes an opening that extends through the first and second portions of the device and provides access to the interior of the body from outside the body. The opening and the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device define a wall that is thinner at the proximal end of the second portion than towards the distal end of the second portion.

1. A molded and undivided medical penetrating device comprising:
 a first portion of the device adapted for insertion into the interior of a body through an opening in a body and for retention in the body cavity following insertion; 
 a second portion of the device integrally joined to the first portion of the device by a joining portion of the device and adapted to be maintained essentially outside the body while the first portion of the device is retained within the body, the second portion of the device having a substantially tubular configuration and including an outer surface, a proximal end adjacent the first portion of the device and a distal end removed from the first portion of the device; and 
 an opening extending through the first portion of the device and the second portion of the device and providing access to the interior of the body from outside the body, the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device and the opening extending through the substantially tubular second portion of the device forming a wall therebetween, and a thickness of the wall at the location where the first portion of the device and the tubular second portion of the device are integrally joined to one another by the joining portion of the device being less than a thickness of the wall adjacent thereto but nearer the distal end of the substantially tubular second portion of the device, 
 wherein an outer diameter of the substantially tubular second portion is uniform and an inner diameter of the substantially tubular portion is increased surrounded the joining portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first portion of the device comprises two external surfaces that oppose one another, one of the external surfaces being substantially convex and integrally joined to the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device by the joining portion of the device and the other of the external surfaces being substantially concave. 
 
     
     
       3. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 2  including:
 a recess in the substantially concave external surface of the first portion of the device extending in the direction of the substantially convex external surface of the first portion of the device and surrounding the opening where the opening extends through the first portion of the device. 
 
     
     
       4. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 3  wherein:
 the joining portion of the device is sufficiently flexible to allow the first portion of the device to be folded at the joining portion against the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device. 
 
     
     
       5. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the opening that extends through the substantially tubular second portion of the device includes a first length that is located at the joining portion of the device and has a first cross-sectional area, a second length that is nearer the distal end of the substantially tubular second portion of the device than the first length and has a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area of the first length, and a transitional length that joins the first length and the second length. 
 
     
     
       6. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 5  wherein:
 the first portion of the device flares generally radially away from the substantially tubular second portion of the device so as to have a margin lying generally radially outwardly of the substantially tubular second portion of the device; and the generally concave external surface of the first portion of the device includes a salient portion adjacent the margin of the first portion of the device, whereby the salient portion may serve as a focal point for the folding of the first portion of the device onto itself. 
 
     
     
       7. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the first portion of the device is larger than the opening in the body through which the first portion of the device is adapted to be inserted; and 
 the first portion of the device is adapted to seat against a surface of the interior of the body around the opening in the body, whereby the first portion of the device may be retained at the interior of the body at the opening in the body. 
 
     
     
       8. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the opening that extends through the substantially tubular second portion of the device includes a first length that is located at the joining portion of the device and has a first cross-sectional area, a second length that is nearer the distal end of the substantially tubular second portion of the device than the first length and has a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area of the first length, and a transitional length that joins the first length and the second length. 
 
     
     
       9. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 8  wherein:
 the joining portion of the device is sufficiently flexible to allow the first portion of the device to be folded at the joining portion against the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device. 
 
     
     
       10. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 7  wherein the device is made of a silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       11. The molded and undivided medical penetrating device of  claim 10  wherein the device is made of a silicone.